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Leuchars Army Station

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najaB

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Does anyone know what air operations still happen here? I thought it was just the air experience unit and air cadets but I just passed there and saw a C-17.
 
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najaB

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The airfield is still operational and the RAF still use it for training purposes also.
I knew they used it for training with light aircraft like Tucanos, but I was surprised to see a C-17.
 

AlterEgo

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I knew they used it for training with light aircraft like Tucanos, but I was surprised to see a C-17.

It's a relief landing ground so any aircraft could use it. Equally likely of course is the idea that the C17 was actually picking up troops there.
 

fowler9

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It's a relief landing ground so any aircraft could use it. Equally likely of course is the idea that the C17 was actually picking up troops there.

I work with these people so, erm, what he said. Ha ha. :D
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I knew they used it for training with light aircraft like Tucanos, but I was surprised to see a C-17.

You get A-400's, C-17's, Tornados, Typhoons and Hawks at JLA. Getting a C-17 at a military base isn't too unusual.
 

Elwyn

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I live not too far from what was once RAF Ballykelly in Northern Ireland. After the RAF left it was still used regularly for assorted military activity. Helicopters, spotter places, training flights etc. You would occasionally see Hercules flying in and out. One day a Ryanair scheduled flight from Liverpool landed there by mistake. The pilot was evidently making a visual approach to the City of Derry civil airport a few miles away but mistook Ballykelly for the correct airport. I dare say there was a bit of paperwork following that slip up. See:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4857962.stm

So just because the RAF have mostly left, who knows what aircraft you may see at Leuchars.
 
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AlterEgo

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I live not too far from what was once RAF Ballykelly in Northern Ireland. After the RAF left it was still used regularly for assorted military activity. Helicopters, spotter places, training flights etc. You would occasionally see Hercules flying in and out. One day a Ryanair scheduled flight from Liverpool landed there by mistake. The pilot was evidently making a visual approach to the City of Derry civil airport a few miles away but mistook Ballykelly for the correct airport. I dare say there was a bit of paperwork following that slip up. See:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4857962.stm

So just because the RAF have mostly left, who knows what aircraft you may see at Leuchars.

Another interesting fact about Ballykelly is that it's one of very few airfields that had an active railway line crossing the runway. One for the trivia bods on here to pop into Google images.
 

Western Lord

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And, of course, Leuchars is very useful for the top golfers bizjets when the Open Championship is held at St. Andrews! Next scheduled for 2020.
 
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